Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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462. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there is a plan in place to undertake an assessment of school places available for Ukrainian refugees; the measures that are being put in place to facilitate these children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13830/22]

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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558. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the role of her Department in providing school places for Ukrainian refugees coming to Ireland; if this is being coordinated on a county level; and if so, if her Department will provide the contact for County Wicklow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15072/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 462 and 558 together.

The war in Ukraine has caused a humanitarian crisis and the Government is committed to welcoming people fleeing war in Ukraine and seeking protection in Ireland.

My Department will work with all relevant authorities, education partners and school communities to ensure Ukrainian children of school-going age who are beneficiaries of the Temporary Protection Directive are provided with access to appropriate supports to allow them to continue their education in Ireland.

My Department is responding to immediate needs through the provision of school places locally as need arises, and planning for the medium and long-term in alignment with the whole of Government approach, having regard to the need for rapidity and scale.

The utilisation of capacity within existing schools across the country will be a very important aspect for addressing the need for education provision for Ukrainian children, who are beneficiaries under the Temporary Protection Directive. My Department already has data on capacity and under/over subscription at individual schools from its National Inventory of School Capacity based on schools’ annual enrolment returns, and utilises its Geographic Information System to facilitate spatial analysis of this and other data.

On a national level, total primary enrolments peaked in 2018 and have been reducing since. The net overall reduction in primary enrolments by 2022/23 was projected to be in the order of 25,000 pupils. At post-primary level, demographics are generally continuing on an upward trend.

Nevertheless, at both primary and post-primary level there are significant variances in available capacity at local and regional level across the country, in both rural and urban areas and assessment of school place requirements and available capacity at a local level is, therefore, being undertaken. Ultimately, the location of the accommodation provided for the Ukrainian families will be relevant in maximising the utilisation of existing school capacity to meet their education needs and my Department is coordinating with other Government Departments in this respect, with a view to ensuring alignment of our planning processes as much as possible.